CACAO LORENZO C H O C O L A T I E R 1818 Pot Spring Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093 (Corner of Pot Spring & Ridgely Roads) Phone (410) 453-9334 Fax (410) 453-9380
Jessica Kartalija
Healthwatch
November 16, 2006
WJZ's Jessica Kartalija Reporting
Dark Chocolate Provides Health Benefits
(WJZ) Baltimore, MD Chocolate lovers could be onto something. A new study out of Johns Hopkins finds dark chocolate helps fight blood clots.
A study by a Professor at Johns Hopkins finds eating small amounts of dark chocolate reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.
WJZ's Jessica Kartalija spoke to a doctor at Sinai Hospital. "Everything that has an effect has a side effect. Chocolate has some antioxidant effect. If you want the antioxidant, take some chocolate but you don't want to eat just chocolate." said Dr. Tyler Cymet.
The higher the percentage of what's called cocoa liquor found in chocolate, the more antioxidants the chocolate has. Cocoa liquor is pretty dark. That's why white chocolate doesn't contain any. It's not that great for you, milk chocolate is a little better, but dark chocolate is by far your healthiest option.
Cacao Lorenzo is an exclusive chocolatier specializing in truffles and candies with chocolate imported from France. Owner Larry McGlinchey says his customers have become so interested in the healthy factor, they sell four times as much dark chocolate than other varieties. "If you eat an ounce to an ounce and a half a day, you'll get the health benefits from it. If you eat it by the metric ton or by the box, you're going to have a problem with it. All things in moderation is what it amounts to." he says.
Keep in mind the study was conducted over a two week period. There's still no proof of any long term health benefits of dark chocolate.
If you want all the health benefits of dark chocolate without the fat, a good alternative is to drink cocoa.
